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So, about a month ago Mark and I, along with our dog Sukie, packed up all our belongings and moved to California!

Yep.

Cos, you know, we hadn't done anything CRAZY recently and needed to fill out quota.

The whole process started about 7 months ago and it's been one giganormous rollercoaster ride ever since. The short of it is this: Mark was offered a job at Google in San Francisco!!

GOOGLE!!!

So, we left our extremely comfortable, happy and, let's face it, SPOILED ROTTEN existence in our hometown Melbourne, Australia and hi-tailed it all the way to the USA. The Bay Area is no joke. Property and rent prices are sky high as masses of people trying to squeeze into an already high density, tech-frenzied, fast-paced town. NOTHING here is easy. But when Google calls, you come running!! And we did.

To say that this whole process has been a challenge is the understatement of the millenium. We've been through every headache from trying to apply for work VISAs to working out where we're going to be buy our underwear from now on.

But I won't get into all of the craziness now, at least not yet. Let's just say that, despite the monster challenges we continue to face, this is possibly the most exciting adventure we've ever been on and totally worth the blood sweat and tears!

Mark and I have moved into a temporary Airbnb for a couple of months in a very, very cute suburb of SF. We're still exploring, still learning lots and still getting our bearings...

Thankfully, Jordan, of Oh Happy Day, has been an absolute godsend!! She has been so welcoming- showing us around all the awesomeness of SF, inviting us to a dinner party, helping us get settled. That's Jordan in the pic with the gorgeous flowers- I'm sure you recognise her little red Fiat! (Photo taken by Paul Ferney). I simply had to get her a gift for being so awesome (bottom left).

Amazingly our super-anxious rescue pup Sukie has settled in extremely well. She used to be an absolute wreck when it came to any slight change of routine but she has adapted so quickly and easily to this whole new life!! Admittedly, faster than I have!!! She even had to endure a 14 hour flight in air freight and she used to be terrified of confined spaces! She was in a bit of a daze and slightly traumatized after the ordeal, but she recovered quickly! She's LOVING exploring her new backyard in our current rental and dozing in the California sunshine- when it actually bothers to make an appearance, that is. (The pic of her in the grass was perfectly captured by Mark).

Also, I would be remiss if I didn't make a note of just how proud I am of Mark for getting this amazing job at Google. He went through a particularly gruelling interview process and successfully made it to the other side! Even more impressive is that he's been so great at navigating this whole process of moving to an entirely different country- which is no small feat! He's provided us with such a wonderful opportunity and I'm so incredibly grateful!!

We've been living in a constant state of transition for the last 7 months. The continual uncertainty has been a huge challenge for us at times- we don't know what's going to happen next or where we'll be living (our lease runs out in a couple of weeks and we still haven't lined up our next place!!), but at the end of the day, it's all just part of this INSANE adventure. We don't know what the future will bring... but, in some strange way, that's actually part of the fun.

Finally, apologies for being away from this blog for so long. It has been an overwhelming experience and I do have a tendency to retreat when things get too much... I do, however, want to document this whole crazy ride here. So much to tell you....

Whenever I travel, it's not about rushing to the most popular tourist attraction or taking happy snaps of awe-inspiring natural wonders. For me it's about city life and all it's glorious and colourful details. Weeks before I go, I usually mark every destination meticulously in Google Maps- the quirky boutiques, the funky hotels, the restaurants and cafes, the bakeries and patisseries, the ice-cream parlours and candy stores...

Last weekend I picked up a copy of London Style Guide by Saska Graville. (Published by Murdoch Books). Similar to Sibella Court's 'The Stylist's Guide to NYC', this book is PACKED with inspiring 'style' destinations and would be essential in planning a dream trip!

With the aid of stunning photography by Jessica Reftel Evans and Martin Reftel, this book captures all the exciting visual minutiae that makes someone like myself weak at the knees. Details such as... drool-worthy, vintage cake displays at pretty patisseries...

...a row of mismatched chairs at a whimsical canteen...

...the vibrant pops of colour at a local farmers market...

...the rustic and industrial styling at a cosy cafe...

...all the colourful and quirky wonders of independent fashion and homeware boutiques...

and the list goes on...

Now that I've got this book, I would love to visit London and see all this delicious eye candy for myself. PIty it's a 22 hour flight to get there! *Shudder*

Psst... I'm documenting our travels through Portland, Seattle and Vancouver, as frequently as I can, on Instagram if you want to take a peek...

Our first stop was Portland. We were only there for a few days but, I have to say, I've become a huge fan of Portland and all its quirks. I love the generally relaxed, laid-back feel, the rustic dining, the insanely polite drivers, the ice-cream, the donuts, the food carts... I even don't mind waiting in the long queues that constantly stream out of 'hip' destinations (while surrounding establishments remain mysteriously empty). Oh, and I LOVE how there are so many dog-friendly hotels. Although, seeing so many dogs makes me miss my Sukie even more!

So now we're currently in Seattle... and still getting a feel for the place.

I'll be back soon with more trip related updates that will include some of my favourite cafes, shops and restaurants that we've visited along the way...

Mark and I are jetting off to the U.S. tomorrow! We're going to be visiting Portland, OR and Seattle, WA. We'll then be heading up to Canada to visit Vancouver, BC.

Flying is really not my favourite thing in the world, but accessoring for the journey can make things a little more bearable! The following are some items that I either a) bought for the journey or b) fantasised about getting for the journey. The majority of which, unfortunately, fall into the latter category.

Described as being "a gathering place for sea goers who seek warmth", San Francisco's Outerlands looks like the ideal cafe for a cosy brunch with comforting, homey fare. Great name too! If only I lived in SF.